Footnoting History

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Thurkill’s Excellent Adventure: A Medieval English Peasant’s Tour of Hell Nov 09, 2024

Show notes

(Host: Kristin)

Hundreds of years before Dante took us on a tour through the afterlife, there was Thurkill, an English peasant from the 13th century, who described his journey into hell and the edge of paradise. What was it like and what can we learn from his story? Come on a vision quest with Kristin, in this episode of Footnoting History!

For further reading suggestions and more, please visit: https://www.footnotinghistory.com

History for Halloween XI Oct 26, 2024

Show notes

(Hosts: Christine, Lucy, Kristin)

Spooky season is here again! To celebrate we have another selection of historical frights just for you.

For further reading suggestions and more, please visit: https://www.footnotinghistory.com

How to Avoid the Death Penalty in Medieval England, Part II Oct 12, 2024

Show notes

(Host: Samantha) Not everyone who received the death penalty in medieval England was actually killed. Picking up where she left off in our last episode, Samantha explores two more methods of avoiding execution: gaining sanctuary and buying pardons.

For further reading suggestions and more, please visit: https://www.footnotinghistory.com/

How to Avoid the Death Penalty in Medieval England, Part I Sep 28, 2024

Show notes

(Host: Samantha) In medieval England, just because you received the death penalty for your crimes doesn't mean you necessarily had to actually die. Here, Samantha looks at two methods of avoiding having your sentence carried out: benefit of clergy and turning to outlawry.

For further reading suggestions and more, please visit: https://www.footnotinghistory.com/

So You've Been Elfshot Sep 14, 2024

Show notes

(Host: Kristin) Oh no, you’ve been shot by an invisible arrow and now you’re sick. What’s a person to do? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered this week with cures for those times when you’ve been elfshot, this week on Footnoting History.

For further reading suggestions and more, please visit: https://www.footnotinghistory.com

Napoleon Bonaparte and the Malet Coup Aug 31, 2024

Show notes

(Christine) In 1812, while France’s Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte was on a military campaign in Russia, he learned of trouble back home: General Claude-François de Malet and several co-conspirators had tried to take control of the French government. Part of their plan centered around telling people that Napoleon had died - except, of course, he hadn’t. Learn all about the attempted coup from Christine in this episode.

For further reading suggestions and more, please visit: https://www.footnotinghistory.com/

The Adventure of Cabeza de Vaca Aug 17, 2024

Show notes

(Josh) In 1527, Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca set off as a part of the Narvàez Expedition to conquer Florida. The expedition ended in disaster for the Spanish after several encounters with Native Americans defending their lands. Using makeshift boats, Cabeza de Vaca and a handful of other survivors drifted across the Gulf of Mexico before landing near modern day Galveston, TX. Cabeza de Vaca and three other men would spend the next 8 years wandering what is now the Southwestern United States. Come learn about their voyages on this episode of Footnoting History.

Visit FootnotingHistory.com for further reading suggestions and additional information.

Medieval Midwives Beyond Myths Aug 03, 2024

Show notes

(Host: Lucy)

Who were medieval midwives and what did they do? As imagined in novels and films, the medical expertise of such women might be secret, mystical, persecuted, or some combination of all three. In the archives, traces of their activities can be tantalizingly hard to find. This podcast looks not only at the history of midwives in medieval Europe, but at the history of how scholars have tried to recover and reconstruct that history.

Tales from the Tower of London: Gruffudd ap Llywelyn and Ranulf Flambard Jul 20, 2024

Show notes

(Hosts: Christine and Kristin)

Since the Middle Ages, the Tower of London has fulfilled many roles including hosting the Crown Jewels. It has, more infamously, also been a prison for many who were viewed as threats or criminals–leading to no shortage of fascinating stories tied to this property. In this episode, Christine and Kristin each share one of their favorite stories about riveting historical figures who found themselves captive in the Tower: Gruffudd ap Llywelyn (son of a Welsh prince) and Ranulf Flambard (the Bishop of Durham).

Choose Your Own Adventure: The Many Accounts of the Execution of Anne Boleyn May 18, 2024

Show notes

(Host: Kristin)

Historians rely a lot on primary source evidence to interpret the past. But what do you do when multiple sources tell a different story of what happened? Learn about the many accounts of the execution of Anne Boleyn and consider what they tell us about a major moment in English history with Kristin in this week’s episode of Footnoting History!

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